Shloka 31

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

पृथिवीचारिणः केचित् केचित्पातालचारिणः । केचिद्व्योमचराः केचित्सप्तस्वर्गचरा मुने

Transliteration

pṛthivīcāriṇaḥ kecit kecitpātālacāriṇaḥ | kecidvyomacarāḥ kecitsaptasvargacarā mune

Translation

O sage, some move upon the earth; some move in the nether regions (Pātāla); some roam in the sky; and some traverse the seven heavens.

Word by Word

• पृथिवी-चारिणः: moving on the earth
• पृथिवी-चारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (कृदन्त; √चर गतौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; चारिन्-प्रत्ययान्त (one who moves)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनार्थे अव्यक्त-प्रयोग (indefinite pronoun: some)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनार्थे (some)

• पाताल-चारिणः: moving in the netherworld
• पाताल-चारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (कृदन्त; √चर गतौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनार्थे

• व्योम-चराः: sky-goers
• व्योम-चराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘चर’ = चलनशील (one who moves)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनार्थे

• सप्त-स्वर्ग-चराः: moving in the seven heavens
• सप्त-स्वर्ग-चराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √चर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘सप्तस्वर्ग’ इति द्विगु-प्रायः, तत्पुरुषेण ‘चर’ समासः

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ishana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the vast range of embodied existence across multiple lokas, implying that all such realms are within saṃsāra; Shaiva Siddhanta points the seeker toward Lord Shiva (Pati) as the liberator beyond these planes.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By contrasting many realms of movement, it implicitly elevates Linga-worship of Saguna Shiva as a unifying refuge for all beings—where devotion is not limited by location (earth, heaven, or netherworld) and leads toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports—directing the mind beyond fascination with higher worlds toward Shiva-bhakti and liberation.